Chapter 24 – [Hero] What to Gain and What to Lose
After taking a few days off at Deron Castle, we set out on our way again.
Our goal is to catch the demon lord, but we can’t defeat the demon lord right now.
That is why the Four Heavenly Kings must be defeated first.
After all the four heavenly kings die, the power of the demon king will also weaken.
However, as of now, there is no information about the other Four Heavenly Kings.
It was not yet known whether it was in the castle of the devil or if it was hiding in another army of the devil.
I heard rumors from time to time, but all of them were just such absurd rumors that I couldn’t believe them.
The Demon King seemed to be aiming for a long-term battle, so he did not pour out all his energy at once.
So, whenever a battle took place, the outcome would always be narrowly divided. Either we just barely win, or they just barely win.
People said that if the Demon King had invaded with all his might from the beginning, he would have already given all of this land to him.
No one knows why the conquest is so slow. At least none of the inhabitants of this land will know.
To that extent, the Demon King was a stranger.
“Eric, are you really here?”
Yuni looked around and asked suspiciously.
“Um, I heard it’s near here…”
I wasn’t sure either, so I looked around and blurted out my words.
It will definitely fit here.
Somewhere in this mountain, there is a cave of ordeal made by the previous hero.
We had to become stronger through this cave of trials.
I needed equipment for the hero party sleeping at the end of the cave.
Actually, I was planning to stop by earlier, but I stopped by Deron Castle first because there was a credible rumor about the Four Heavenly Kings.
Now that the Four Heavenly Kings were captured, and there was no place to stop by first, it was the best timing to find the cave.
“Why did you hide it in such a hard-to-find place?”
Yuni, who looked around, came out of her mouth.
Actually, I was thinking the same thing, so I didn’t have anything to say.
Why would you hide it in a place like this?
He probably didn’t have the hobby of bullying his juniors after being like the previous generation’s hero, so it would be correct to guess that he had some intention.
“Don’t you think it would be faster to find them by scattering?”
Seeing as if Seria was hot, she suggested that while fanning her hand.
“Oh, can I borrow the wind?”
“Thank you Uni.”
Seeing this, Yuni called the spirit of the wind to cool us all down.
It’s a really versatile ability. With this pattern, I can use the same skill, but…
I was still a bit reluctant to use this ability.
I don’t really want to use it because of the technical style of copying someone else’s, and the fact that it’s too much for the original owner.
Unless it’s a really urgent situation, you should refrain from it as much as possible.
I was thinking that way.
“That sounds like a good idea. The one who finds it first will signal.”
Arin also nodded her head in agreement.
“Then let’s all scatter and search. It seems that there are no monsters around.”
When I said that, everyone agreed.
I was thinking of scattering in different directions, but Jeren… I could see Mr. Sneaking closer to Seria.
“… Mr. Jeren, would you like to come with me?”
“Of course, warrior.”
Mr. Jeren turned to me straight away without any regrets.
Was it an overreaction?
“Seria, would you like to go this way with me?”
“Uh, huh? Ah yes… Doesn’t care.”
Arin seemed to want to go out with Seria.
She was thinking of splitting up, but… No matter what
“Then am I alone?”
“Because I have no way of telling you where I am. It’s not bullying.”
When Uni showed her pout, Arin comforted her.
Perhaps she wasn’t genuinely upset either, her expression immediately loosened up.
“Hero, then we will depart.”
“Ah… I see.”
We walked in silence for a while in a very awkward atmosphere.
There were so many things I wanted to ask him, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it.
Didn’t you decide to trust Seria?
Even so, interrogating him felt like an act no different from investigating her background without Seria’s knowledge.
Furthermore… If you ask and the doubt is no longer a doubt…
He didn’t say anything either.
If you think about it, the recent appearance when he was talking a lot was strange, this was the usual him.
A silent, faint presence that may or may not exist.
As he did this, he seemed no different than usual.
“Oh, isn’t that the one, hero?”
I couldn’t look around for a while because I was observing him, but when I followed his hand and turned my head, I could see a fairly large cave in the distance.
“I guess that’s right… Let’s go.”
Surprisingly, the road to the front of the cave was well drilled, so it wasn’t too difficult to move.
Seeing that there is a path, it seems to be correct.
Standing in front of the cave and taking a closer look, it seemed like the correct answer.
It was small and hard to see, but familiar patterns were engraved all over the place.
It is the symbol of the goddess.
A circle drawn on a straight line. It is the symbol of the dawn goddess who symbolizes the sunrise.
“Is that correct?”
“Yes, I guess. Everyone should be called here.”
But what do you call it?
All I can do is swordsmanship…
“You can call it with that magic.”
“Magic? Ah…”
Come to think of it, there were other ways for me now.
The mark of a warrior engraved on my hand.
You can use magic to inform them.
“Yeah, that’s right… With this…”
Still, why is he reluctant to use magic?
Do I and she suffer a little too? … Or is that why you suggested this?
It’s true that he doesn’t look good to be honest, but for now, isn’t the proposal made out of good intentions?
Eating bad thoughts like this is not a good thing.
“I think that signal magic will work.”
“Signal magic… Yes.”
Signal magic.
It is a magic that floats a bright light above your head and informs your friends of your location.
It is not a magic that is often used because it has the disadvantage of being noticed by other monsters, but it is a good magic to use in a safe place like this.
“Well, then…”
As I rolled up the sleeve of my arm, the vines that covered the entire arm were revealed.
It’s still a bit ominous.
I shook off my thoughts, closed my eyes, and focused.
Let’s focus…
I’m sorry for Seria who suddenly stings, but she’ll understand.
I imitated her, remembering the way she used her beacon magic.
Dig!
“Ugh!”
A tingling sensation passed through my wrist as if someone had stabbed it.
At the same time, a bright light shot up above my head.
“Hoo… After all, magic is amazing.’
“Yeah, that’s right…”
All that remains now is to wait.
We decided to sit on the floor for a while and wait for them to come back.
“…”
“Do you have something to say?”
“Ah… No, it’s not like that…”
As I looked at him casually, he asked curiously.
For a while, it seemed that he had lost his mind over his relationship with Seria.
I decided not to ask… Are you still not giving up in your heart?
I feel disappointed in myself for not being able to keep my promise.
“You seem to be having a lot of trouble these days.”
“Yes? Ah… Haha, did you find out?”
When I hesitated to answer, he naturally continued.
Oops, did it show too much?
“Is it because of me?”
“Ugh… !”
I was taken aback when he suddenly hit the spot.
Uh, how did you know?
“Lately, for some reason, it seems that the eyes keep looking at me. I’m a bit sensitive to such gazes.”
“Sorry, sorry…”
It seems that I am very immature in hiding these feelings.
“He usually did that when I was with Lady Seria… Haha, you look surprised. Anyone involved will notice. Ah, I don’t mean to blame the hero, but…”
I felt ashamed that he had caught on to all my actions.
There was no response, so I thought it would have gone unnoticed, but it must have been my own misunderstanding.
… So, did Seria notice?
“Well, anyway… Sorry. Warrior.”
“Yes yes?”
Suddenly he bowed his head to me, and I was taken aback.
Why, why are you doing this?
“I didn’t even know you two were like that… If that’s the case, it’s enough to worry about. I was a bit careless.”
“Uh… Yes? Oh no, that’s…”
Is that kind of relationship?
Could it be that the two of us are mistaken for a relationship?
“We will be more careful in the future.”
“I-Me and Seria are not really…”
“What?”
He asked again in a strange way.
Me and Seria don’t really… No relationship whatsoever
Not even lovers, just… They’re just party members.
Of course I know she has a crush on me, and I don’t hate her either, but at least she hasn’t developed anything special between the two of us.
Maybe someday
No, but Arin and Uni are definitely…
Because I vaguely knew the feelings of the three, I was rather unable to step forward.
If you choose one, surely the other two…
“Did I get it wrong?”
He asks again.
What… Do I have to answer
“I-Me and Seria are just party members.”
“Oh, so it’s not a romantic relationship?”
“Ah… No…”
But why?
I was very hesitant to give him this answer.
Wouldn’t it be nice to lie?
No, it’s a bit of a lie…
“It’s strange, the two of you seem to be getting along really well.”
“… That.”
Did it look like that?
I thought I treated all three the same.
“Haha, if it’s because you’re shy, it’s okay. No matter where you go to talk. I just asked because I was curious.”
“… Not really.”
For some reason, I felt a bit ashamed.
“You say that, but in fact, it’s a secret from all of us, the two of you secretly…”
“Gee, not really!”
He said it as if he knew everything, so I cried out for some reason.
I certainly didn’t say anything wrong, but for some reason I felt something like a strange feeling of guilt stabbing me in the chest.
“Uh huh, then you two really have nothing to do with each other? It’s weird, it can’t be.”
“I-it’s true! Seria and I are just party members!”
“Then there is no particular feeling between the two of you, is there?”
“Yeah, that’s right!”
Wait, what?
I think I just couldn’t hear you properly because I was so excited.
“Okay…”
He looked behind me and pulled the horse leisurely.
… Behind me?
An anxious premonition crept up.
I have a feeling that I won’t be able to look back.
However, in the place where I looked back with courage,
“Ah…”
“Yo, warrior…”
There was Seria, who seemed shocked, and Arin, who was flustered.
